In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Belarusian opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other political prisoners have been freed from jail and granted safe haven in Lithuania, according to government sources. The release follows a quiet but powerful negotiation led by U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg, with support from former President Donald Trump and other international leaders.
The surprise release marks a rare moment of international cooperation with Belarus, a country often criticized for its authoritarian rule under President Alexander Lukashenko. According to Lithuania’s Prime Minister’s spokesperson, the deal was orchestrated behind closed doors by Kellogg, who recently met directly with Lukashenko in Minsk.
Tsikhanouski’s wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a prominent opposition figure herself, posted an emotional message on X (formerly Twitter), thanking Trump, Kellogg, and others who contributed to her husband’s release. “We’re not done,” she wrote, calling for the release of over 1,150 remaining political prisoners still detained in Belarus.
A video from her office showed an emotional reunion between the couple, with Tsikhanouski stepping out of a van, smiling, and embracing his wife in a long, heartfelt hug. The scene symbolized both relief and resilience in a nation still gripped by political oppression.
The release of foreign detainees was also part of the deal. Lithuania confirmed the freed group included five Belarusians, three Polish citizens, two Latvians, two Japanese nationals, one Estonian, and one Swede. Among them was Ihar Karnei, a former journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, whose employer thanked international leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, for their support.
Kellogg’s deputy, John Coale, revealed in a social media video that Trump personally encouraged the trip, believing it could jump-start broader peace efforts—particularly in relation to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The international community welcomed the news. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it “fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all political prisoners under the brutal Lukashenko regime.” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski added: “The free world needs you, Siarhei!”
Syarhei Tsikhanouski, a 43-year-old video blogger, was sentenced in 2021 to one of the longest prison terms in Belarusian history—found guilty of “organizing mass unrest” and “inciting social hatred.” His supporters called the charges baseless and politically motivated. When he was banned from running for office, his wife stepped in to run in his place, leading to mass protests after Lukashenko claimed victory in a widely disputed election. Tsikhanouskaya has since lived in exile in Lithuania.
The U.S. State Department has yet to comment on Kellogg’s private meeting with Lukashenko, but this unprecedented diplomatic effort could signal a shift in Belarus’ engagement with the West—and possibly a new chapter in its long, troubled political story.
